A week later, Jackson sat at his computer working on his homework. His dad had asked him to make a program to generate the nth fibonacci number. Jackson knew he could make it simply do it with brute force and go through every fibonacci number before the one chosen, but his dad had hinted that there was a faster way. Jackson was getting frustrated with himself for not being able to figure it out.
He looked at the deck of cards on his desk. His cousins had left it behind. Why would they do that? Now they can't use it to trick anyone else... Unless they're just still trying to trick me. Jackson took the deck of identical cards and began shuffling them to clear his head.
Maybe it has something to do with Pascal's Triangle or something like that. Or maybe...Jackson clenched his jaws and gripped the deck of cards. Then he threw it against the wall, and the cards scattered all over that side of the room. Jackson took a deep breath to calm down and stood from his chair to go pick up the cards.
He stopped as his eyes fell on one of the cards. Three of Hearts. Jackson looked at the others. Each card was different. He'd looked through them dozens of times since his birthday. He knew they'd all been the King of Spades just a few hours earlier. Did Tom and Mitch come and switch it? No, I looked at them this morning, and I've been home the whole time since then. There's no way.
He kept thinking about it as he picked up the cards.
The sound of the post arriving in the front hall came to him, but he ignored it and kept picking up the cards.
"Hoo!" Turning, Jackson saw an orangish brown owl looking at him from the window. "Hoo!" it said again.
"Isn't it a little bright out for you?" Jackson asked.
"Hoo!" the owl said again, turning to look toward the hallway. Jackson looked toward the hallway for a second then back to the owl. Jackson had the strange sensation that the owl wanted him to get the post. Shaking his head, he began putting the cards back into a neat stack. "Hoo!" the owl repeated, tapping the window with its beak.
Jackson looked back at the owl, which looked annoyed with him. "Fine," Jackson said, standing up. "I'll get the post." Jackson walked into the hallway and found the post lying by the front door. He picked it up and walked back toward the library, looking through it as he walked. Bills, bills, my dad's tech magazine... Then he found a strange letter with a handwritten green address on the front:
Jackson Smith
1123 Stone Henge Way
London
There was no return address, but the back of the letter had a wax seal with an H and some animals. What is this? he thought as he popped the letter open and pulled out two sheets of paper with a strange but comfortable texture. Jackson opened the first paper and read:
Dear Mr. Smith,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Due to your heritage you are likely very confused by this, so allow me to explain.
Magic is a very real part of the world, but most people are unaware of its existence. Non-magical people, commonly called muggles, are subject to all manner of spells that have been developed over the years to keep them in the dark. Some muggles are aware of magic due to magical family members, or run-ins with members of the magical community, but for the most part we find it in our best interest to keep ourselves hidden. While your parents are both muggles, you are in fact a wizard. You may have difficulty believing this, but if you open your mind and think of times when you have been frustrated, angry, or afraid, or even excited, you will recognize your unconscious use of your abilities. It is the responsibility of Hogwarts to educate all the magical youth in the British Isles to properly control their abilities that they may know how best to use them in their lives.
Enclosed you will find a list of all the books and equipment you will need for your first year and instructions on where you can obtain them, as well as your ticket for the Hogwarts Express.
The term begins on September 1. Please send back your response by owl (simply write a letter and give it to the tawny owl I used to send this to you).
Sincerely,
Filius Flitwick
Deputy Headmaster
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